Adjustable awning structure

Abstract

An adjustable awning structure which can be assembled for use or disassembled for shipping and storage has two sides. The size of one or both sides of the canvas can be adjusted. The supporting angle of one or both sides of the canavas can also be adjusted. After being disassembled, the whole structure can be reduced to a small bundle for shipping and storage. The awning finds particular use for a user who travels quite often. Moreover, since the structure has a considerable supporting strength, the size of the canvas can be suitably varied, if necessary.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable awning comprising: at least one main post;   a respective slidable joint slidably mounted to each said at least one main post, and respective locking means for releasably fixing the slidable joint at a position on each said at least one main post;   a respective fixing joint fixed at an end of each said at least one main post, said fixing joint having a lug means;   at least one supporting rod pivotally mounted to said fixing joint at the lug means and extending therefrom to a respective end thereof;   at least one extendable and retractable extension rod means extending between said respective slidable joint and said at least one supporting rod, each said at least one extension rod means pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said respective slidable joint and at the other end thereof to a respective said at least one supporting rod at a location thereon that is spaced from the lug means at which said at least one supporting rod is pivotally mounted to said fixing joint;   a rotatable shaft mounted to and extending from the end of said at least one main post, and means for rotatably mounting said shaft to the end of said at least one main post at a location that is offset from said lug means at which said at least one supporting rod is pivotally mounted to said fixing joint;   a respective canvas rod mounted to and extending from the end of each said at least one supporting rod;   a sheet of canvas extending between and secured to said rotatable shaft and each said respective canvas rod; and   a canvas driving mechanism operatively connected to said rotatable shaft for rotating said rotatable shaft secured to said sheet of canvas to roll said sheet of canvas around said shaft when the shaft is rotated in one rotational direction and to unroll said sheet of canvas from around said shaft when the shaft is rotated in a rotational direction opposite to said one rotational direction.   
     
     
       2. An adjustable awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one main post comprises two main posts, said rotatable shaft mounted to and extending between the ends of said two main posts,   said at least one supporting rod comprises two supporting rods pivotally mounted to each of the fixing joints each fixed to a respective one of the ends of the two main posts, and   said at least one extension rod means comprises two extension rods pivotally mounted to the slidable joints each of which is slidably mounted to a respective one of the two main posts.   
     
     
       3. An adjustable awning as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for rotatably mounting said shaft comprises two T-shaped connecting pipes each of which is secured to a respective said end of the main posts,   and further comprising a fixing plate connected to one of said connecting pipes, said canvas driving mechanism being mounted to said fixing plate.   
     
     
       4. An adjustable awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein said canvas driving mechanism comprises a two piece housing, a worm and worm gear meshing with said worm within the housing, the worm having an end thereof extending from the housing and shaped as a hooked ring, the gear having a square-shaped hole extending therethrough,   said means for rotatably mounting comprises a T-shaped connecting pipe fixed at the end of said at least one main post, said pipe having a vertical portion extending within said fixing joint and a horizontal portion, a fixing plate connected to the horizontal portion and to which said housing is mounted, at least one bearing within the horizontal portion for rotatably supporting said rotatable shaft, and a crank having a hook engaging the hooked ring of said worm and a bent portion by which the crank is rotatable so as to rotate the worm and worm gear meshing therewith, and   said rotatable shaft has a square-shaped end complimentary to and extending in said square-shaped recess.